Electrical connecter



Oct. 9, 1934. YOUNG 1,975,999

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER 4 Filed Nov. 21. 1928 ?atented Get. 9, 1934 m err-"Ice;

1,915,999 announcer. comma Frank A. Young, Meriden, Conn, assignor, by meme assignments, to Connecticut Telephone a Electric Corporation, Meriden, Com, a corporation ofDelaware Application November 21, 1928, Serial No. 320,843

3 Claims.

My invention relates-particularly to devices for attaching flexible cables or conductors to spark plugs and similar apparatus.

The main object is to provide a device which can be made cheaply and which can be readily applied to the spark plug or other terminal and which can not he accidentally detached.

Thisdevice is specifically designed for use on aeroplanes, where it is of utmost importance that to connections be easily made and yet where it would be fatal if the parts became accidentally disconnected.

In carrying out this invention 1 provide a terminal clip secured to the end of the conductor and provided with two spring arms preferably formed of sheet metal. These arms are stamped so as to provide recesses between them for re-'- ceiving the ball-like stationary terminal. The formation of the recess produces a projecting an boss on the outside. I then provide a U shaped latch member which is also preferably formed of spring material stamped from sheet metal.

The side arms of this latch are tapered and bent inwardly to form hooks which extend through at openings in the sides of theclip to form loose bearings. The sides are provided with seats adapted to interlock with the bosses.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the connecter about to be applied. I so Fig. 2 is a, plan view on an enlarged scale showing the. parts in the position which they occupy when the latch is interlocked with the clip. Fig. 3 is an end view of the clip with the latch up or open as Fig. 4 is a detail view of the blank from which the latch member is formed,

The forked connecter or clip 5 is preferably,

formed of sheet metal with spring side arms and secured to the insulating part 8 in the manner 4o customary in structures of this character. A screw "1 may serve to connect the clip to the conductor.

p The latch member or bail 8 is preferably formed of pring metal stamped to the shape shown in Fig. 4 and the ends 9 are tapered and inserted through the holes 10 in the side arms of the clip and'bent over" into hock-like form to prevent withdrawal and at the same time provide a more or less loose bearing.

The clip is provided with bosses 11 which form recesses on the inside where it is to receive the-head x' of the spark plug or other element. The outside of these bosses 11 coact with recesses or sockets formed in the bosses 12 in the side arms of the latch. The latch is preferably pro- L vided with bowed portions 13 which afford spring action, In the illustrated embodiment the bosses and recesses on said latch and hail are formed in the shape of spherical segments to cooperate with a spherical terminal X. '60

-To connect the parts the latch is raised to the position shownin Figs. 1 and 3, whereupon the clip is slipped over the end of the terminal X. The latch is then pushed down into the position shown in Fig. 2, thus interlocking the latch with the clip and providing a loop portion 8 which encircles the other side of.the terminal X and prevents the clip from being pulled off. It'will be seen that the spring action of the latch reinforces the spring' action of the clip. The hooks 9 are loosely pivoted in bearings 10 so as to avoid undue strain on the parts when the latch is actuated.

This construction is adaptable to various sizes of terminals since the side arms of the clip and of the latch may be pressed together orspread apart to a considerable extent andstill function properly. In this way a device of a given size can be used on spark plugs having a number of different sizes of nuts. so

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limited thereto but that various mechanical changes may be made. For example, other means such as pins 85.

may be employed for 'pivotally securing the latch member. Various changes may also be made in the design and arrangement of parts illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention as will now be apparent to those skilled in the 90.

art. Reference will therefore be had primarily a to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention. 1 claim:

1. An electric terminal connecter comprising a pair of sheet metal stampings each having a sphere-like indentation and a complementary boss adjacent each end thereof, said stampings being bent to have substantially U-shaped sections,

means for pivotally securing said stampings the one to the other, the ends of one stamping constituting jaws to receive an electric terminal in the recesses thereof and the other stamping constituting a bail, said bail being adapted to be ,moped into and out 6: a position such that the indentations therein cooperate with the bosses on said jaws to thereby prevent spreading movement of the latter.

2. In an electric terminal connecter wherein a forked connector having oppositely .projecting 1 bosses on the prongs thereof is adapted to be electrically connected to the end of a cable, and wherein indentations in said prongs complementary to the bosses thereon are adapted to engage -the opposed sides of a terminal member, the

combination with said connecter of a sheet metal stamping having a pair of spaced recesses on one surface thereof in the form of spherical segments, said stamping being bent to overlap and have engagement with the outer surfaces of said prongs, the ends of said stamping being pivotally secured to said prongs at points intermediate said bosses and the bases of said prongs, whereby said re- I cesses and said bosses may be moved into cooperative engagement the one with the other to a bail pivotally mounted thereon, said bail being constituted by a sheet metal stamping having an enlarged portion near each end thereof, said enlarged portions being stamped in the shape of a hollow spherical segment for engaging the bosses on said connecter.

FRANK A. YOUNG. 

